Sunday, May 22, 2011

Sweet Memories...

Lake Cuyamaca ~ San Diego, California ~ September, 1986

A small swarm of honeybees were furiously buzzing around the head and face of our six-month old daughter, Erin. Blissfully unaware and calmly ensconced in the Snugli baby carrier on my chest, Erin was impatiently awaiting her next tiny bite of strained peaches. As she opened her tiny mouth, several bees furiously fought each other for a shared bit of lunch. My own sandwich fell from my left hand, while my sticky right hand flailed about to eliminate the little pest and his siblings.  Under attack from all angles, I quickly raced from the wooden picnic bench where we were seated to the enclosed front seat of our El Camino. Safely tucked inside the air-tight cab we continued our lunch. But I was literally shaking my head, wondering again, “Why oh WHY am I camping with a baby?”  

Understand me when I tell you that this was by no means our first camping trip.  My husband, Jeff and I had been tent camping together for several years, and we both camped as children with our own parents and siblings. As a newly married couple, we had already learned (the hard way) about making camping reservations ahead of time. Just a year before this trip we had impulsively decided to go camping late on a Friday afternoon. The night ended with us sleeping uncomfortably in the back of our El Camino in a county park because there were absolutely no open sites at any campground along the California coast from Huntington Beach to San Diego. Believe me when I tell you that we checked campground after campground after campground to no avail. All that checking left us without any time to stop into a market for breakfast supplies or additional beverages. After that crazy little mishap, reservations became a big part of our camping lifestyle. If we didn’t have a reservation ahead of time, we didn’t go camping. For this particular weekend we made our reservations ahead of time, packed all our camping gear and baby gear, and attempted our first overnight camping trip with Erin.

Thinking back on that trip now, I believe I was utterly exhausted and just a teeny bit grumpy from lack of sleep. There is truly nothing that can compare with attempting to sleep on the pebbly ground of a gently sloping hill. Waking up all night long with a baby bed sliding into your backside is just this side of extremely uncomfortable. It had seemed an ideal place to set up our small tent the previous day, as on first glance it appeared to be smooth, flat, and rock-free. Only later did we realize that we had hastily and distractedly chosen this site while our hungry infant lay screaming in her car seat. Erin had missed her nap, was late getting her lunch, and was not shy about sharing her discomfort. Erin was not really all that happy about our sleeping arrangements either. Babies sometimes find it difficult to sleep in something other than their own familiar bed at home, and our daughter was no exception. Our firstborn was a beautiful, smiling cherub by day and a colicky little sprite by night. The little playpen bed was not Erin’s own bed and there was no rocking chair to help her get comfortable.

Anecdotes aside, please don’t get the idea right away that camping is not for you.  It is definitely for some of you.  Knowing your children’s personality and penchant for travel is vitally important. We loved camping with our children. (Zachary would come along soon enough.) It was an easy and affordable way to see some of the most beautiful, unspoiled places in our country. Remember however, that every single trip you take is a learning experience. There are things that you will definitely want to do again, and there are other things that you will NEVER, EVER do again.

We had a pleasant time at Cuyamaca, and considering this was our first camping trip with Erin we fared very well. Lake Cuyamaca is located in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near the town of Julian in San Diego County. It is a premier site for bird watching in Southern California, and you can find good trout fishing here as well. There are plenty of activities for families, and the weather near San Diego is always absolutely gorgeous.  This is a smaller campground with just 40 RV sites, 14 tent sites, and two cabins are available if you’re not equipped with your own tent or RV. The state park, however, has an additional 160 sites close to the lake, including 16 sites for horses and their people. Information for these campgrounds can be found online at http://www.lakecuyamaca.org/ or by calling toll-free at 1-877-581-9904. The historic town of Julian is nearby and their website information can be found at http://www.julianca.com. 

Keep in Mind …        

Keep your children on a schedule that is similar to the one you have in place at home, especially if they are babies.  Try to eat at the same time, play at the same time, and sleep at the same time. This will keep everyone in good humor, especially mom and dad.

Do not be hasty when choosing the perfect spot.  Find a clean and FLAT place to pitch your tent; preferably a site devoid of rocks, debris, and ants, but with shade whenever possible. You will probably be spending a few days and nights in this space, and you’ll want it to be as relaxing and trouble free as possible.  If you find a spot you like, jot down the number and save it for future reservations.  

Remember that bugs and insects are a part of nature.  Bring plenty of insect repellent, or citronella candles to keep most of them away from your family.  You may also want to invest in some type of screened tent if bugs are a serious problem for any family members.  I have always been highly allergic to mosquito and other insect bites, and carrying an Epi-Pen has brought peace of mind (though we have thankfully never had to use it.)

Until Next Time... Deb :)

Monday, May 9, 2011

Planning Ahead...

So we're off on another adventure in just three short weeks. We're planning on traveling from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana by car. We'll fly into Little Rock and then get going on this "Beale Street to the End of the Line, or that Voodoo that you doo-doo" vacation. Oh-oh... what do I see in the forecast? Rain, thundershowers and ... flooding! Holy moly, what next? We've been in sticky vacation situations before (bombing on the tube in London for example) but pre-vacation we know we're getting into something strange. I gathered the family together for a chat to determine an alternate plan and they are so looking forward to this adventure. How can I let them down? I guess we'll 'wing it' as we usually do and use our friendly Lady Visa card if we need to change things up a bit. I can't wait to see Beale and Bourbon Streets and we are huge fans of music and fried food. Yum. I'll report on this trip in a few weeks and let you know how the floodwaters receded for us down Highway 61.

Wish us luck,
Deb :)